FIFY
That is absolutely true. Definitely positives to it but it’s a shame frames are all starting to looking like they fell out of the same mould.@Jpez for the same reason though, it's great how between Polygon, Marin, and now Vitus (maybe others too?) you can now easily get a decent frame in a proven design and nice colourway with good spec on it for thousands less than Norco et al... Check the spec on this thing for the $$$. Same with the new purple Siskiu T8.
Oh yeah same here I'm a self obsessed wanker and won't buy any of the above named bikes or an estate home either, but I acknowledge that's down to me not the bikes, and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending them to someone new to the sport... which you couldn't have said even just a couple of years ago really.I guess that’s why I’ll never live in a cookie cutter house in a cookie cutter estate somewhere even though it presents better value. No character.
I don't really buy that unless everyone is using homogenised moulds across the board (like the unlamented badge engineering period for cars)? Welding a unique frame for a brand is still going to be a unique and costly process and carbon manufacturing is still obscene, so unless everything looks literally identical I don't see any benefit?^ don't mistake homogenisation for progression. 2 factories produce the gross majority of the world's bikes and almost all of those bikes look very similar. Economies of scale may have just as much influence as innovation.
Except many many many brands are very similar, unique is now hard to find. R&D is part of it.I don't really buy that unless everyone is using homogenised moulds across the board (like the unlamented badge engineering period for cars)? Welding a unique frame for a brand is still going to be a unique and costly process and carbon manufacturing is still obscene, so unless everything looks literally identical I don't see any benefit?
Unless you're talking about initial R&D with frame design - in which case yeah possibly. Look how many brands jumped on Horst Link when the patent expired..
The Big Trail and Scout (and indeed my Ragley Big Al!) are available at even lower prices and arguably do even more to get people into the sport and offer more than enough headroom to improve and experiment with their new skills without the need to sell up and buy a more expensive bike.Vitus and the like are making pretty decent bikes at not too much price. now that deore has gone 12 speed, and the z2 is a decent fork at a good price things like the Merida Big.Trail, Norco Torrent and Nukeproof Scout comp are all very good options for just over 2k. certainly not headline bikes but the sort of thing that will get a lot of people onto good bikes
I love my 12 spd Shimano over the 11 spd Sram I have. The 12 has a 32 round the 11 has 32 oval - in the 12 spd I just feel like I always have the right gear and have actually managed some pinch climbs on the 12 I don’t on the 11PS. I think 12 speed isn't necessary and we'll see a push to very lightweight and adjustment tolerant 10 speed drivetrains. I'd love an Advent X or even a 10sp XT(R) on mine!
just comparing my GX to the kids 2x10 deore. his shifts better and if i could get that in a 12 speed for very little money, that seems like a win. but havent tried deore 12 to say it does as well. at 110kg and getting on a bit I'll take the lowest gears that keep me uprightPS. I think 12 speed isn't necessary and we'll see a push to very lightweight and adjustment tolerant 10 speed drivetrains.
I had a go on my mates 12 speed (Stumpjumper with SX) and didn't really feel that much difference to be honest. That said I probably didn't spend enough time to really get acquainted. I can tell you that I'm happy with my 11-46T 10sp Deore and that's riding all over Smithfield and Davies Creek with a 105kg body and a lack of fitness! I would like an XT or XTR shifter thoughI love my 12 spd Shimano over the 11 spd Sram I have. The 12 has a 32 round the 11 has 32 oval - in the 12 spd I just feel like I always have the right gear and have actually managed some pinch climbs on the 12 I don’t on the 11
It is quite subtle.Definitely one of the better looking ebikes.
Actually don't mind it, but bugger having a Fox 34 on a 16+ kg bike (plus my heft). I like that it's more focused on a balanced trail experience rather than just winch and smash.I know it's an ebike but Orbeas have their new one out. It's 16.2kg's which is pretty impressive.
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/first-ride-orbeas-rise-is-a-new-breed-of-e-bike.html
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